Girls, I posted this already on another thread, but I thought I should post it here too: We just received our marriage certificate today (it's been just over 4 months since our wedding) and my maiden name is spelled wrong. This is what I need to take to a registry office to change my name. DH has gone to a registry office already this morning and was told "it depends who you get" when I go with the marriage certificate to change my name. Basically, if I get a customer service agent who is lenient, they will go ahead and issue a new license for me with my married name. If not, then I have to wait to receive another certificate. When we got legally married April 17, EVERYTHING we signed was correct. Yaly is very detail-oriented. After our marriage (as best I can determine by researching the internet) the notary who performed the ceremony sent our certificate to the Canadian consulate in Havana to be processed. It was then sent back to PP and Yaly subsequently forwarded it to us. Keep in mind that we bought a house since we got married and although I called DHL (the courier company used to send us our certificate) 3 times to advise of our address change, it was being delivered to the wrong address. DH went to the DHL warehouse this a.m. to pick it up and discovered my name spelled wrong. I emailed Yaly this morning to advise her of the problem and asked her to please get back to me asap and let me know how quickly another marriage certificate can be issued. I'm guessing 4 months again. I don't think that it is Yaly's fault. It is a typo generated by the consulate's office in Havana. I guess my point is, learn from my "mistake" and consider getting legally hitched before heading to Cuba. This could potentially save you some hassle....

Oh I'm so sorry Sara to hear about your little problem! That totally sucks and would really upset me, so I am sure you're not a happy camper right now. I was wondering about doing something "legal" before leaving. Not sure how to do that though?! I think we'd do it just the two of us, and let our guests think that our wedding is actually the legal ceremony etc. Not sure, I'm a little worried now about having a mistake like yours, or having issues with having to have it translated, etc.

I actually found it insanely easy to change my name. I took the original, non-translated marriage certificate to the Health Card office and they changed my name, just like that. Then I did the same at the License office and it was just as easy, no hassle, no translation required, nothing.

So I had the exact opposite experience as you and I am so happy that we did the legal there, that way it was our real wedding and not just a symbolic one, and that was important to me.

Thanks ladies - I was pretty pissed off yesterday about it. Doesn't help that I am ing which makes everything that much worse. I didn't have time to go to a registry office yesterday to attempt the name change, but plan to go tonight after work. I haven't heard back from Yaly yet either regarding obtaining a correct marriage certificate. Will let you know once I know... Wish me luck tonight!

I really hope it all it all gets worked out easily and quickly for you Sara!!

I really want to do the whole thing 'legal' there too. But now I"m getting a little concerned. I really don't want to have to pay for it to be translated etc. I'm going back and forth now. My bestfriend got married there, and she's having a few issues with her name change. The license place wants it translated.

I know that there is a gazebo and an indoor reception area so I am assuming that if these areas are not in use you can be moved......

A while back I checked the average rainfall and in the season I am going to be there - it rains an average 1 out of 7 days so I would be pretty unlucky to have rain on the wedding day - maybe have a look at the average rainfall for your dates??

I set a rain plan with Yaly, even though she told me I didn't need it, and it was to have the wedding ceremony in the lobby (which is very nice BTW) because we had too many people for the gazebo, and the reception in the meeting room, which is actually very nice and very big. So do not worry, they can make rain plans really fast.